As I mentioned in the last post, a package arrived from Europe: a 30 mm lift kit for the MooseWagen. The kit included front strut spacers and rear spring top spacers, which together provide 60 mm (about 2 inches) of lift. Add in taller tires, and you can push it closer to 75 mm (3 inches).
For tires, I went with 225/70R16 All-Terrains—the tallest you can fit without getting into subframe spacing and more serious suspension or body modifications.
Installation
The lift took about six hours to install and was pretty straightforward overall. The only real challenge was the rear strut assemblies, which need to be disassembled to fit the spacers. If you’re tackling this yourself, you’ll want a high-quality spring compressor—it’s not the place to cut corners.
After the lift went in, the car needed a few drives to settle and even out. All four corners sat higher right away, but slightly uneven. After about 100 km, the suspension leveled out, leaving me with a solid 70 mm (2.75 inches) of lift and a substantial boost in ground clearance.
Results
The difference was immediate and exactly what I wanted: more ground clearance and better wheel articulation. Even with the lift, the car drove like it was still at stock height—no weird handling quirks, just extra capability.
The new, taller tires did require a bit of trimming in the inner plastic wheel-well liners, but it was a quick five-minute job, and now they fit without rubbing.
Fast forward: with 23,000 km on the lift kit, two retorques, and routine checks, everything is still holding strong. The MooseWagen is riding taller, tougher, and ready for more adventures.
Mods So Far
Of course, the lift and tires were only part of Stage 2. To make the MooseWagen more road-trip and trail ready, I’ve added a few key upgrades:
- Split charge system powering an auxiliary battery.
- 20L fridge to keep food and drinks cold.
- Additional USB and 12V outlets for charging gear.
- Custom pantry cabinet that houses the fridge and a full dining set for two.
- Hidden pantry tucked between the fridge and seatback, stocked with essentials like coffee, grinder, bamboo cutting board, and other kitchen staples.
With these additions, the MooseWagen isn’t just capable off-road—it’s becoming a functional, compact overland rig ready to support long days of driving, hiking, or bikepacking.
